Kaku

Free

🎃 A fast, out-of-the-box terminal built for AI coding.

FreeFree tier

Type

Open Source

Visit Website GitHub (5.2k stars)

LinksX

About Kaku

Kaku is a fast, out-of-the-box macOS terminal built for AI coding. It offers a native macOS experience with dark and light modes, tuned fonts, and keyboard shortcuts familiar to Mac users. Key features include tabs and split panes with standard macOS shortcuts, an AI assistant that suggests fixes for failed commands and translates natural language into commands, beautiful defaults (JetBrains Mono, auto themes), a lightweight binary (40% smaller than alternatives), polished touches like copy on select and clickable file paths, a curated shell suite (Lazygit, Yazi, remote files, z, completion, highlighting), and full Lua configuration API. Kaku is open source (MIT), requires no account, and only sends AI requests to the user's configured AI service. It is designed to let developers start working quickly with practical defaults and minimal setup.

Key Features

Tabs and split panes with native macOS shortcuts

AI assistant that fixes failed commands and turns plain language into commands

Beautiful defaults: JetBrains Mono, macOS font rendering, auto dark/light themes

40% smaller binary with instant startup and stripped-down GPU core

Copy on select, clickable file paths, history peek, visual bell

Curated shell suite: Lazygit, Yazi, remote files, z, completion, highlighting

Full Lua configuration API with existing config compatibility

Open source (MIT), no account required, AI requests only go to user's configured service

Pros & Cons

Pros

Fast and lightweight (40% smaller binary, instant startup)
Open source under MIT license, no cloud account needed
AI assistant helps correct failed commands and convert natural language to commands
Practical defaults with polished macOS-native experience
Full Lua config API allows easy migration from other Lua-based terminals
Curated shell tools (Lazygit, Yazi, etc.) come preconfigured
Broadcast input across multiple panes simultaneously

Cons

Currently macOS only, no Windows or Linux support yet
AI assistant requires manual configuration (API key setup)
Less mature ecosystem compared to iTerm2 or Alacritty
Some features may require knowledge of terminal setup

Best For

AI-assisted coding in the terminalReplacing iTerm2 or Warp with a lighter, open source alternativeDevelopers who want fast tabs/panes and practical defaults on macOSUsers who need an AI assistant to debug command failuresCustomizing terminal behavior through Lua configuration

FAQ

How do I install Kaku?

Download the DMG from GitHub Releases or use the Homebrew tap: brew install tw93/tap/kakuku. Then run kaku doctor to verify the app, PATH, and shell integration.

How is Kaku different from iTerm2?

iTerm2 is a mature macOS terminal. Kaku is a lighter, faster alternative with practical defaults, fast tabs and panes, a curated shell suite, and an AI assistant, ready out of the box.

How is Kaku different from Warp?

Warp is closed source and built around a cloud account. Kaku is MIT open source, requires no account, and AI requests only go to the AI service you configure.

Is Kaku paid?

No, Kaku is an MIT-licensed open source project.

Does Kaku run on Windows or Linux?

Not yet; the current focus is getting the native macOS experience solid first.